Stress, beauty and ageing

You can’t begin to be beautiful if you’re not well. There is a growing realisation that we can only be our most beautiful selves when we are in our most healthy state – be it physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually, professionally or spiritually. This aligns with what Chinese medicine advocates: namely that beauty is an external manifestation of our internal health. The better our overall health, the more beautiful we can look.

Stress is widely agreed to have a detrimental effect on our beauty and physical health. With current beauty products failing to address this negative impact, how can the Hayo’u Method help?

How stress can effect your skin & cause premature ageing

Stress has a negative impact because the ‘fight or flight’ response diverts blood away from the skin and into the muscles. This process results in less oxygen and vital nutrients passing into the skin, muscle tension, inflexible fascia and stagnant lymph.

Other signs of ageing we dread such as fine lines, dryness and sagging skin are also worsened by stress. For example, sagging skin is the result of decreased blood flow and dehydration where the stress response has leached vitamins, blood and moisture from the skin and diverted it to the muscles.

Stress is also a key element in inflammatory skin conditions such as Rosacea, which is exacerbated if you deal with stress by using alcohol, especially red wine, which increases the likelihood of Rosacea and broken capillaries.

Also, our skin has a protective barrier formed of healthy oils known as lipids. Stress reduces this barrier, causing lipids to evaporate and resulting in fine lines and dry skin. Even with the best skincare this rich, moist barrier is hard to replace.

Chronic stress is widely believed to accelerate biological ageing. Scientists have found that age-related damage to DNA and proteins is often reversible and does not cause problems until the damage evokes a stress response. This would suggest that stress, rather than the damage itself, is at least partially responsible for age-related deterioration.

Scientists have also directly tied stress to premature ageing via the shortening of our telomeres. Researchers measured the length of DNA sections called telomeres, and found that individuals with the most job stress had the shortest telomeres — and when telomeres become too short, the cells can die or become damaged.

Both acute and chronic stress increase levels of toxicity and inflammation inside the body, disrupting circulation. Many scientists now believe that an unbalanced immune system responding to unabated inflammation can trigger or worsen most chronic medical conditions we suffer from today.

The Hayo’u Method can help.

Firstly, the Beauty Restorer Ritual can quickly help alleviate the negative effect of stress such as bad skin and premature ageing.

Use the Beauty Restorer in three ways, either with Hayo’u Beauty oil or in the shower for one minute.

1) Gua sha
A simple action proven in studies to increase microcirculation by 400%. This restores blood flow to the area boosting collagen and elastin, improves elasticity of the skin and manipulates areas of tension to stimulate and regenerate cells. It also reduces fine lines, pigmentation, sagging skin and uneven skin tone and promotes lymphatic drainage, which eliminates toxins and helps to reduce congestion and puffiness.

2 ) Press-hold
The Beauty Restorer is naturally cool to the touch. So simply press-hold the cold jade over tired eyes or an area to reduce inflammation, boost lymphatic drainage and shrink pores. Using the stone in this way can also reduce under eye bags and alleviate stress related symptoms such as headaches and throbbing temples.

3) Pressure Points

To activate pressure points on the face. These acupressure points stimulate the meridian channels which link directly to the organs in our body. Activating these points directly supports our organs and internal health.

The Beauty Restorer is made from Jade – a type of crystal used in Chinese facial massage for thousands of years and revered for its restorative, cooling properties. Our Jade is certified to GIA standard and carefully sourced from a specific region in China renowned for the highest quality jade. Cheaper Gua sha tools are not certified jade but composites which have little or no healing benefit. Research studies show that certified jade radiates far-infrared rays, invisible waves of energy that have the ability to penetrate all layers of tissues, muscles and bone in the human body. These rays are deeply healing, increasing oxygenation and regeneration of the blood.

Jade has been used in Chinese facial massage for thousands of years and revered for its restorative, cooling properties. It’s the perfect stone to effortlessly manipulate areas of tension in the fascia of the face and restore circulation via Gua sha.

What is Gua Sha?

Gua sha is revered across Asia for its beauty benefits. What sets it apart as a beauty treatment is its unique ability to engage with the circulation under the skin to draw in nutrients. In addition to applying an oil to the surface of your skin, you are also activating your own body to do the work from the inside. It’s easy, on-hand, inexpensive, combines with all existing beauty routines and is completely natural.

Chinese Medicine has always stated that how we look on the outside is a manifestation of our internal health. The better your overall health, the slower the ageing process, so practice the Beauty Restorer Ritual alongside the rest of the Hayo’u Method for maximum benefit. It comprises simple one minute rituals that work to profoundly de-stress the body, enable free flow of circulation and clear inflammation.

*Gua Sha is a treatment designed to relieve muscular pain and tension and improve circulation. Results vary according to age, strength of body, skin type and medical conditions. At no point should treatment feel painful. Always start gently, observing the reaction to your skin and proceed with caution. If in any doubt, contact us at info@hayoumethod.com or seek medical advice. This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.

Supporting studies

http://www.pnas.org/content/101/49/17312.short

1. Job Stress Can Damage Cells, Leading To Early Aging.
A 2012 study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, found that work-related exhaustion can can have a harmful effect on critical DNA in the cells. Researchers measured the length of DNA sections called telomeres, and found that individuals with the most job stress had the shortest telomeres — and when telomeres become too short, the cells can die or become damaged. Telomere shortening has been linked to Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, the study notes.
“We know that the telomeres [wear down] over time, but possibly anxiety and stress may expedite that,” says Diller. “That is the closest we’ve gotten to understanding the relationship between stress and how our body may age faster.”

DISCLAIMER:

Note: This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical or skincare conditions. If you are under the age of 16 or over the age of 60, we do not recommend using the Hayo'u Method rituals or products until you have consulted with a medical practitioner. At no point should treatment feel painful. Should you experience any pain during the use of any of our products, you should cease use immediately.
Do not perform Gua sha over broken skin, broken veins or thread veins, moles, cuts or bruises. Individual results may vary depending on age, skin type and medical history. Wait until any redness has subsided before re-treating the area. Gua sha is a treatment designed to relieve muscular pain, tension and inflammation by improving circulation. Please contact the Hayo'u Method Team on info@hayoumethod.com, if you need any further advice.